Nottinghamshire trainer lands top Flat prize in Grassroots Final

Donny Rover wins The Jockey Club Grassroots Middle Distance Flat Series Final

A Nottinghamshire racehorse trainer landed the spoils as he targeted two of the biggest prizes offered by The Jockey Club's Nottingham Racecourse.

Michael Appleby sent a power-packed team to compete at Nottingham Racecourse for both finals of The Jockey Club Grassroots Flat Series races worth a total of £50,000.

Donny Rover, who had won at the track in the spring, obliged with victory at 5-1 in the opening Jockey Club Grassroots Middle Distance Flat Series Final.

And the Danethorpe stables weren’t far away from making it a double, with Guishan finishing runner-up to 12-1 chance Mon Brav in the sprint series final just over one hour later.

The victor is trained by north Yorkshire Brian Ellison who has won both races in the corresponding jumps series run by The Jockey Club in the past.

Nottingham Racecourse was hosting the finals of a major series of horse races held across Britain this year. They began at the track in May and momentum built around the country over 36 races during the summer.

Run as part of The Jockey Club’s commitment to support all levels of British racing, the Grassroots Series aims to provide opportunities for horses operating below the highest level to compete for considerable prize-money.

The parent company of Nottingham Racecourse – The Jockey Club – is the largest commercial group in British horse racing and reinvests every penny it makes back into the sport.

Michael Appleby, who has been training in Nottinghamshire for three years, enjoys an excellent 21 per cent winner-to-runner strike rate at Colwick Park and was delighted to land some of the lion’s share of the valuable prize-money.

He said: “We came here with two good chances and it’s great to win it. I’m glad the final was at Nottingham.”

James Knox, General Manager, Nottingham Racecourse, who was taking charge of his first fixture, said:

“It was fantastic to host the finals of the Grassroots Series – and it was thrilling to have a locally-trained winner. Well done to Michael Appleby and jockey Andy Mullen.

“The Jockey Club recognises the importance of prize-money at all levels of the sport for owners, trainers, jockeys and stable staff. With £50,000 for the finals, The Jockey Club Grassroots Flat Series has proved popular for horsemen, and in return they support those investing the most back into British racing.”